- "I made VWU My No. 1 choice because it's close to home, close to the beach, and the cross country team and coaches are exactly what I was looking for"
- Selected Virginia Wesleyan over Randolph College
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INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES
- 2016-17 ODAC All-Academic Team
- 2015-16 ODAC All-Academic Team
- ODAC All-Academic Team (2017-18)
Senior (2017-18): Competed in all six meets as a senior… Ran a career-best time of 27:42.2 in the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Regional on November 11… Placed eighth in the ODAC Preview Meet on September 1 with a time of 28:53.5.
Junior (2016-17): Ran in four meets as a junior… Posted a time of 29:07.0 in the 8K course at the Don Cathcart Invitational on October 1.
Sophomore (2015-16): Ran a time of 32:01.0 in the ODAC Preview Meet on September 11.
Freshman (2014-15): Competed in just cross country as a freshman… Ran his best time in the NCAA regional meet at the end of the season.
Academic Accomplishments: Wesleyan Scholar… Ranked ninth in a graduating class of 270… Honors graduate.
Before VWU: Competed in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, and soccer… Helped guide his cross country team to a conference title as a sophomore, his track team to conference titles as a sophomore and senior, and his soccer team to a conference crown as a junior… Recorded a personal best 5K time of 18:07, a mile time of 5:07, and a 3,200 time of 11:19… Advanced to the regional and state championships in cross country as a sophomore, and to regionals as a junior and senior… Outdoor track team advanced to regionals as a senior… Contributed to a conference champion 4x800 relay team as a rookie.
Personal: Son of Denise and Christopher Kirkbride… Dad attended the United States Naval Academy, mom attended Ohio State University… Born in Annapolis, Maryland… Has two brothers, Brian, a student at the College of the Albemarle, and Kyle, a student-athlete at Virginia Wesleyan College.
Get to Know Matt
- Enjoys seafood, the music of Katy Perry and spending vacation time in the Bahamas or Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Favorites include the book "The Hunger Games," the movie "Billy Madison," and the TV series "Regular Show"
- A fan of football's Tom Brady and the New England Patriots and actor Jason Segel
- Career goal: "be some kind of accountant"
- Self-description in 10 words or less: "love to sleep"
- My favorite aspect of being an athlete is: "being able to represent the school"
- The part of my game I've improved the most is: "my times"
- My personal athletic goal at VWC is: "to contribute as much as I can"
- If I could spend one day with a famous person from any time period it would be: "Katy Perry, because she is a goddess"
- People might be surprised to know: "I somehow actually enjoy running. Sometimes"
- It's the year 2030 and : "I'm in Currituck again with my family and working as an accountant"
- The most important advice I've received is: "be the very best, like no one ever was" -- Ash Ketchum
